The Gods of the fourth industrial revolution : philosophies and religions in the age of deep learning

Abstract

Reading the signs of the times has been regarded as a central task for all religions, perhaps especially for those religions which are directed towards an end of history. Klaus Schwab characterized emerging technologies that bridge the gap between animals and machines as the “the fourth industrial revolution”. The industrial revolutions are accompanied by philosophies and had a significant effect on the traditional religions. The “market” and “the individual” are the God of third industrial revolution, and the task of the traditional religions is to offer a theological critique of these quasi-religions as forms of idolatry. Artificial Intelligence with deep learning might indeed be seen as being able to replace natural intelligence, but these problems will be worked on more easily in a dialogue between the sciences and the humanities which use the wisdom of the religions as resources for dealing with the problems. Therefore the most important thing is that human creatures are to be perfected by God in communion with God.